Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles legend who hung up his cleats after a storied 13-year NFL career, isn’t straying far from the game he loves. Instead of snapping the ball at Lincoln Financial Field, Kelce has traded the gridiron for the broadcast booth, inking a lucrative three-year, $24 million deal with ESPN. But it’s not just the paycheck that’s turning heads—it’s Kelce’s own take on his new gig. With his signature humor, the former center quipped that he feels like he’s “stealing money,” getting paid handsomely to talk about football rather than play it. For a man who spent over a decade battling in the trenches, this new chapter is both a departure and a dream come true.

Kelce’s transition into broadcasting has been nothing short of seamless. Announced in May 2024, just two months after his emotional retirement press conference, the deal places him at the heart of ESPN’s NFL coverage. He’s a regular on Monday Night Countdown, the pregame show leading into Monday Night Football, where he joins host Scott Van Pelt and analysts Ryan Clark and Marcus Spears. But that’s not all—Kelce has also stepped into the spotlight with his own late-night venture, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce, which debuted in January 2025. It’s a role that lets his larger-than-life personality shine, a trait Eagles fans know well from his iconic Super Bowl LII victory speech.

Reflecting on his new career in a February 2025 interview, Kelce didn’t shy away from poking fun at himself. “I’m stealing money,” he said with a grin, marveling at how he now earns more to break down plays and share stories than he did anchoring Philadelphia’s offensive line. During his final NFL season in 2023, he signed a one-year, $14.25 million contract with the Eagles—an impressive sum for a center, but still less than the $8 million annually he’s pulling in at ESPN. “I get to sit around and talk about the game I love with people who love it just as much,” he added. “It doesn’t feel like work—it feels like a privilege.”

Kelce’s broadcasting journey didn’t come out of nowhere. He’d already dipped his toes in the media world with New Heights, the wildly popular podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end. Launched in 2022, the show exploded in popularity, especially after Travis’s high-profile romance with Taylor Swift thrust the Kelce family into the mainstream spotlight. The podcast’s success—complete with a reported $100 million-plus deal with Amazon’s Wondery in 2024—proved Kelce had a knack for connecting with listeners. That charisma, paired with his football IQ, made him a hot commodity when he retired, with networks like CBS, NBC, and Prime Video vying for his signature before ESPN won out.

On Monday Night Countdown, Kelce brings the same intensity he once reserved for facing down defensive linemen. Whether he’s analyzing a quarterback’s footwork or recounting a tale from his playing days, his insights are sharp, authentic, and often laced with humor. His debut season in 2024 included memorable moments—like donning a Kelly Green South Philly tuxedo for a game at the Linc—showing he’s not afraid to lean into his Philly roots. Meanwhile, They Call It Late Night offers a looser vibe, blending sports talk with Kelce’s offbeat charm, though it’s still finding its footing with audiences.

For Kelce, the gig is more than just a paycheck—it’s a way to stay tethered to football without the physical toll. After 13 seasons, seven Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl ring, he’s earned his spot among the NFL’s elite centers, with a Hall of Fame nod all but certain. Yet, at 37, he’s not ready to leave the game behind. “Football’s given me everything,” he’s said. “This is my way of giving back—and having some fun while I’m at it.”

As of March 2025, Kelce’s ESPN tenure is just getting started, but his self-deprecating take on “stealing money” has already endeared him to fans old and new. From the field to the screen, he’s proving that greatness doesn’t retire—it just finds a new stage. And for a man who once rallied a city in a Mummer’s costume, talking football for millions feels like the perfect encore.